The Bardiya District Prison administration has launched an investigation after cannabis was discovered hidden under an inmate’s pillow, raising serious concerns over internal security and monitoring within the high-security facility.

The incident came to light recently after five grams of cannabis concealed under the bedding of inmate Sohan Dhakal was discovered, said Manbahadur Saru, chief of the district prison office. Dhakal is currently serving time for a conviction in a murder case.

“We are yet to determine whether the cannabis was kept by the inmate himself or planted by someone else,” Saru told reporters. “A full investigation is underway.”

The prison administration has filed a case against Dhakal in connection with the seizure. The confiscated substance will be sent to the forensic laboratory in Kathmandu for further analysis.

This is not the first time Bardiya prison has been linked to drug-related activity. Nearly three years ago, a number of inmates, including a Pakistani national, were transferred to a prison in Kathmandu following reports of narcotics being distributed inside the facility.

Bardiya prison is currently overcrowded. Though it has a capacity to hold 125 male inmates, it is housing 375 individuals—314 convicted prisoners and 61 detainees awaiting trial.

A separate unit in the same compound holds 48 female inmates, comprising 28 prisoners and 20 detainees.

The incident has prompted authorities to re-evaluate internal surveillance protocols, especially regarding how controlled substances are making their way into the facility despite tight security measures.